Open-topped foldable receptacle

ABSTRACT

An open-topped foldable receptacle comprising a piece of fluid impervious flexible sheet material folded to and fro and provided with transverse end seals so that at least three downwardly open folds are formed, and two longitudinal strips of stiff material attached to the folded piece to support its outer side walls. Said strips are preferably loosely mounted in pockets formed by the outer folds of the folded piece and the end seals.

United States Patent [191 Swalleri Dec. 24, 1974 OPEN-TOPPED FOLDABLE RECEPTACLE [76] Inventor: Sven Arild Swalleri, Kungsgatan 32,

Stockholm, Sweden [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1971 21 Appl. No.; 176,218

[52] US. Cl 150/49, ISO/0.5, 229/41 C, 229/41 R, 229/55, 229/DIG. 3 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/36 [58] Field ofSearch ..150/49,0.5; 229/62,41 R, 229/41 C, 41 B DIG. 3, 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,566 9/1926 Elliott 229/55 X 1,623,107 4/1927 Goodykoontz 229/41 B 2,676,702 4/1954 Whitefoot, Jr.. 229/66 X 2,766,927 10/1956 Wallace 229/62 3,187,903 6/1965 Oltz 229/55 X 3,220,544 11/1965 Lovell ISO/0.5 X 3,261,458 7/1966 Nibecker ISO/0.5 X 3,586,084 6/1971 Redmond 150/05 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or FirmSommers & Young [57] ABSTRACT An open-topped foldable receptacle comprising a piece of fluid impervious flexible sheet material folded to and fro and provided with transverse end seals so that at least three downwardly open folds are formed, and two longitudinal strips of stiff material attached to the folded piece to support its outer side walls. Said strips are preferably loosely mounted in pockets formed by the outer folds of the folded piece and the end seals.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTED uEm 71974 FIG.

OPEN-TOPPED FOLDABLE RECEPTACLE This invention relates to open-topped foldable receptacles and more particularly to such a receptacle adapted for use as a portable washing tub or dust bin or the like of throw-away nature and preferably adapted for hospital use.

One object of the invention is the provision of a foldable and portable receptacle of the nature described which is extremely economical to manufacture. Other objects are the provision of a receptacle of this nature adapted to fold into a compact fiat package so that it may be conveniently carried and stored; the provision of a receptacle which comprises a foldable frame which may be made of an inexpensive, easily destroyable material such as paper board and a bag, preferably a separate bag, which is made of fluid impervious, e.g. waterproof material such as flexible sheet plastic material, the bag having strong and fluidtight seams; and the provision of a receptacle which is easy to erect for use. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle according to the invention as it appears when erected; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modified receptacle; FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the receptacle taken on line III-III of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is vertical cross-sections similar to FIG. 3 of modified receptacles according to the invention.

The receptacle shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a piece of flexible sheet plastic material 1 folded to form three folds open downwards and provided with transverse end seals 2. A strip 3 of stiff paper board is inserted into each of the two outer folds, which strips extend between the end seals 2 and are scored on transverse lines 4 to permit opening of the frame consisting of said strips by folding on lines 4 to the form in which it is illustrated in FIG. 1. The folding lines 4 are suitably displaced towards one edge of the receptacle to facilitate lifting of the receptacle. As shown in FIG. 2 each strip 3 alternatively may be provided with two or more folding lines 5, 6.

Alternatively the receptacle may be designed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4 the strips 3 are attached to the outside and in FIG. 5 to the inside of the outer side walls 8 and 9, respectively, by glueing or heatsealing. In this case the strips 3 are suitably attached to the side walls 8 or 9, respectively, prior to the folding operation, e.g. in connecting with pulling out the sheet material 1 from a supply reel.

What is claimed is:

1. An open-topped collapsible receptacle having a first collapsible position and a second extended position, said receptacle comprising in said first collapsed position:

a. a single piece of fluid impervious sheet material i. said material having at least 3 downwardly opening parallel and longitudinal folds, with the first and third folds being folded outwardly and downwardly to the same level, said folded material defining first and second longitudinal ends.

ii. at least two upwardly opening folds lying on either side of said center downwardly opening fold b. at least two transverse end seals sealing the first and second logitudinal ends of said folded material, said seals extending through all downwardly opening folds,

c. at least one longitudinal strip of stiffening material positioned within said first and third folds, said strips extending from one longitudinal end seal to the other,

2. An open-topped receptacle as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said strips are loosely mounted in said outermost folds forming pockets for retaining said strips.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.856.064 Dated lgggfle; 24,1274

Inventor(s) SVEN ARILD SWALLER'I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page, line 2} the inventors name is SWALLER'I' On the title page, line 4, the inventor's name is Sven Arild Swallert.

sighed and's ealed' this llthday of 'Eebrilfi 1975 (SEAL) Attest: I v

R M S r C. MARSHALL DANN' Attesting Officer ii figd a fi FORM PO-IOSO (IO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-069 

1. An open-topped collapsible receptacle having a first collapsiblE position and a second extended position, said receptacle comprising in said first collapsed position: a. a single piece of fluid impervious sheet material i. said material having at least 3 downwardly opening parallel and longitudinal folds, with the first and third folds being folded outwardly and downwardly to the same level, said folded material defining first and second longitudinal ends. ii. at least two upwardly opening folds lying on either side of said center downwardly opening fold b. at least two transverse end seals sealing the first and second logitudinal ends of said folded material, said seals extending through all downwardly opening folds, c. at least one longitudinal strip of stiffening material positioned within said first and third folds, said strips extending from one longitudinal end seal to the other,
 2. An open-topped receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strips are loosely mounted in said outermost folds forming pockets for retaining said strips. 